Indie music body endorses Apple's new music streaming service

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The Apple logo is pictured inside the newly opened Omotesando Apple store at a shopping district in Tokyo June 26, 2014. REUTERS/Yuya Shino

(Reuters) - Apple Inc’s new music streaming service has been endorsed by the Worldwide Independent Network, an association for independent musicians, two days after the company reversed its decision of not paying musicians during a three-month trial.

The endorsement follows a Billboard magazine report that independent music rights holders Beggars Group and Merlin Network signed royalty deals with Apple. (bit.ly/1eHiVvD)

Apple’s decision of not paying musicians had became a lightning rod for criticism in the music community.

The iPhone maker flipped its decision on Monday following pop star Taylor Swift’s move to hold back her latest hit album “1989” from the streaming service.

“Apple listened to our community and then revised its music service agreement, demonstrating that it is committed to treating fairly all creators – labels, artists and songwriters,” said Darius Van Arman, co-founder of independent label Secretly Group.

Apple Music will launch at the end of June, offering subscribers a large catalog of songs for a subscription fee of $10 a month.

“Over the last few days, we have had increasingly fruitful discussions with Apple,” said Martin Mills, chairman and founder of the Beggars Group.

"We are now delighted to say that we are happy to endorse the deal with Apple Music as it now stands, and look forward to being a big part of a very exciting future." (bit.ly/1dgoXBx)

Reporting by Abhirup Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty